Vending-machine.



D. E. WICKS.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IvI/IYII, 191s.

Patented Mar. 13, 1917.

ITN VAL/W l )revented from turning eXce )t in DANIEL E. 'WICK-S, OF PHILADELHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

VENDING-MACHINE.

Spcccaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 13, 191'?.

Application filed May 11, 1915. Serial No. 96,948.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, DANIEL E. Wiens, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful 1mprovement in Vending-Machines, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

My invention is particularly applicable to vending mechanism which is check controlled to successively present in position for delivery a series of the articles which are to be vended. Although, as hereinafter described, my invention may be advantageously employed in vending newspapers, it is to be understood that l do not desire to restrict my invention to such use.

The form of my invention hereinafter described, includes a casing having a check inlet and a vending outlet, a check receptacle in said casing adapted to receive checks inserted through said inlet, and a holder having a series of compartments for the articles to be vended, said holder being in its lowermost position in the casing when fully charged, but arranged to be elevated, step by step, to successi ely present said compartments in registry with said outlet; said holder being thus elevated by manually turning a handle exterior to said casing, which is upon a shaft having a gear within the easing engaging a rack on said holder; said holder being locked in stationary position, (except when released by the deposit of a check) by a bar engaging said raclr but morable to release the latter by manipulati-fin of a lever exterior to the casing, when a normal check is inserted in said inlet. when thus released, said shaft is normally the direction to present the next article in the holder in registry with said vending outlet; such means including a ratchet wheel on said shaft and a pawl which also operates to deposit, in said receptacle, each check after it has been used to effect the release of the mechanism as above described.

lily invention includes the various novel features of construction and arrangement hereinafter more definitely speciied.

ln saitL drawing: Figure l is a perspective view of a machine conveniently embodying my invention.

Fig. il is a plan view of said machine with the top of the casing removed.

Fig. 1H is a vertical sectional view of said machine taken on the line 111, lll in Fig. H.

Fig. 1V is a fragmentary sectional view showing the normal position of said ratchet wheel and pawl.

Fig. V shows the elements of the pawling mechanism indicated in Fig. 1V, but in the position to discharge the used checlz into the check receptacle.

ln said figures; the casing 1 has the check inlet 2 and vending outlet 3 and, conveniently, has its front and back walls formed as doors 4C and 5 respectively connected with the casing by hinges 7 and 8 and provided with suitable locks 9 and 10; thus aiording convenient access to all of the mechanism within said casing, which incloses the check receptacle 11 which is removable only when said door l is opened and is normally retained in the position shown in Fig. l1 wherein it is adapted to receive checks inserted through said inlet 2.

The holder13, which is mounted for vertical reciprocation in said casing 1, has the series of compartments le for the articles to be vended and has means whereby it may be manually shifted to successively present said compartments in registry with said outlet 3, including the rack 16 which is rigidly connected with said holdcr 13 and has the series of gear teeth 17 and the series of locking notches 1S, the latter' respectively corresponding, in spatial arrangement, with said compartments. rlChe reciprocatory locking bar 20 has the projection 21 arranged to successively engage said notches 18 and thereby prevent movement of said holder; the spring 23, shown in Fig. H, tending to lock said bar in engagement with said notches. However, said bar may be disengaged by means including the check slide 25, the spring 26 tending to operate said slide to close said check inlet 2, and the lever 28 which is connected to said slide by the pivot 29 and is fulcrumed at 30 on said casing. Saidvslide may be moved, in opposition to its spring, by turning said lever 28 in the direction of 'he arrow shown in Fig. Il, to receive a check 32 between the adjacent ends of said locking bar 20 and said check slide 25, so that when said lever 2S is released said slide spring shifts it in the direction opposite to the arrow on the bar 20 in Fig. Il, in opposition to the locking spring 23, so as to unlock said bar projection 21 from the notch with which it is engaged in said raclr 16, when a checlr or" normal dimensions is received between the adjacent ends of said locking bar and slide. 1t is noted that if a check of abnormal dimensions is inserted through said inlet 2, it cannot be used for the releasing operation above described.

Said holder 13 is provided with means arrangedto raise and lower it by engagement with its gear teeth, on said 'rack 16, including the shaft 3l, ournaled in said casing 1 and having the handle 35 exterior thereto, the gear wheel 36 on said shaft, adapted to engage said gear teeth 17 on said rack, the ratchet wheel 38 on said shaft 311, and the keeper pawl 40 which is mounted to reciprocate in said casing and has the spring 41 tending to engage it with said ratchet wheel 38. Said pawl l() is not only arranged to permit said shaft 34: to be turned in one direction (indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1V and prevent it from turning in the opposite direction, but is also arranged to deliver, to said receptacle 11, any check 32 inserted between said bar 20 and slide 25, when said shaft 311 is turned to vend the article ior which said checlr was inserted. rllhat is to say, when said lever 28 has been manipulated to admit a check 32 between the adjacent end of said check slide 25 and bar 20, that check is presented. in the path of said pawl as indicated in Fig. 1V, and, when the shait 3i is then turned in the direction of the arrow shown in that ligure, to elevate the holder 13 and present the article to be vended through the outlet 3, such movement thrusts said pawl to the right as indicated in Fig. V and thus drives that check from between said bar20 and slide 25 into said recep tacle 11,

Although said shaft 31 is normally prevented from turning in but the one direction, as above described, such operation is dependent upon the detent latch 43 which, as best shown in Fig. H1, is connected with the casing by the pivot 45, and, being normally interposed between the casing bearing yl.6 and the shaft collar 47, as indicated in Fig. 11, normally detains said shaft 34 against axial displacement, with said gear wheel 36 in engagement with said rack teeth 17, and said ratchet wheel 38 in engagement with said pawl 40. However, when said door 5 is opened, said latch detent 43 may be turned in the direction of the arrow indicated on Fig. 111 to disengage said. shaft 34: and permit the latter to be manually thrust axially, toward the left in Fig. l1, by the exterior handle, to disengage said ratchet wheel 38 from said pawl LtO, without disengaging said gear 36 from the teeth 17 of said rack 16, so that the latter may then be moved in either direction by turning movement of said shaft.

.arrow marked thereon in Fig. 11,

ble abutment to engage said casing 1 in Aposition to encounter the arm 51 on said locking bar 20, to hold the latter in un- Vlocked position while returning the holder 13 to its initial position shown in Fig. III. Said abutment 50 is conveniently formed as a plug fitting the socket 52 in said casing, and, as it is normally removed to permit the operation of the mechanism, itis preferably then suspended by the chain or other flexible connector 53, so that it is available when required.

Although when said holder 13 is released as above described, it may be readily moved in either direction by means of said exterior handle 35; 1 also lind'it convenient to extend said rack 16 exterior to said casing 1 so that said holder 13 may be directly`manipulated thereby. To facilitate such manipulation said rack may be provided with the handle 55 at the top thereof. Moreover, when said rack is thus projected the number of notches 18 therein exposed at any time serves to indicate the number of articles which have been dispensed from said holder.

Said machine may be used as follows: Said door 4f being opened, and said holder 13 shifted to its lowerniost position, indicated in Fig. 111, all of the compartments 14 are filled with articles to be vended, for instance newspapers. Said door is then secured, and, the abutment 50 being removed, in the position shown in Fig. 11, said holder is automatically locked in its lowermost position by the spring 23 shifting the locking bar to engage its projection 21 in the corresponding' notch 18 in said rack 16. Said detent latch `/l-3 being in its operative posi* tion, shown in Figs. 11 and 111, said ratchet wheel 38 is presented in engagement'with the pawl #10. rl'he check inlet 2 is closed by the check slide 25, under pressure of its spring 26. ln order to operate the mechanism, to vend the article 57 from the topmost compartment 111, the exterior lever 28 is manually shiitedin the direction of the thus opening the check inlet 2, and a penny or other coin or check 32 for which the mechanism is calibrated, is inserted through said inlet- .0

at the inner end of the check slide 25. lThe lever 28 being then released, its spring 26, shifts it inwardly, closing said check inlet 2 and thrusting the inserted check against the end of the locking bar 20. Continued movement oi said check slide and locking bar, which is automatically eilected bysaid spring 2G, disengages the projection 21 of said bar from the corresponding notch, thus releasing said holder, so that the latter may be raised. Said holder is raised by turning said exterior handle 35, in the direction of the arrow in Fig. I, to the extent of one tooth of said ratchet wheel 38; thus shifting said pawl 40 from the position shown in Fig. 1V to the position shown in Fig. V and automatically delivering the coin from between said bar 2O and slide 25 into said coin receptacle 11. Such removal of the check 32 from engagement with the locking bar permits the latter to be instantly and automatically shifted by its spring 23 to again lock the holder, but by engagement of the projection Q1 in the notch next below that in which it was originally set; so that said holder is only raised to the extent of the single compartment 1a containing the article for which the check 32 was inserted. Such dispensing operations may be repeated until all of the compartments 141. have been successively presented in registry with said vending outlet 8, the number of articles vended being indicated by the notches 1S in the rack 16 displayed above said casing 1 as in Fig. 1. Thereupon7 the door 5 may be opened and the abutment 50 replaced in the socket 52 shown in Fig. 11, thus releasing the holder 13 by securing the locking bar 20 in unlocked position, so that the shaft 34; may be'thrust inwardly by the handle 35 to release said ratchet wheel 38 from said pawl l0 so that said holder may be lowered by turning said handle 35, or, more quickly, by pressing downwardly on said rack 16, until the holder reaches the position shown in Fig. 111, when it may be recharged as above described.

I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details of construction and arrangement above described as it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the essential features of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

1. 1n a check controlled vending machine, the combination with a casing having a check inlet, a vending outlet, and doors upon respectively opposite sides thereof; of a removable check receptacle in said casing, adapted to receive checks inserted through said inlet; a holder having a series of compartments for the articles to be vended; means arranged to shift said holder to successively present said compartments in registry with said outlet, including a rack on said holder having a series of gear teeth and va series of locking notches; said notches respectively corresponding with said compartments; a reciprocatory locking bar having .a projection arranged to successively engage said notches and thereby prevent movement of said holder; a spring tending to lock said bar; means arranged to disengage said bar and thus release said holder, including a check slide, a spring tending to operate said slide to close said check inlet, and a lever, connected to said slide and fulcrumed on said casing; whereby said slide may be moved in opposition to its spring, to receive a check between the adjacent ends of said locking bar and slide, so that when said lever is released said slide spring unlocks said bar, when a check is inserted between said bar and slide; means arranged to raise and lower said holder, by engagement with its gear teeth, including a shaft journaled in said casing and having a. handle exterior thereto, a gear wheel on said shaft, adapted to engage said gear teeth on said rack, a ratchet wheel on said shaft, a keeper pawl, mounted to reciprocate in said casing, having a spring tending to engage it with said ratchet wheel, arranged to permit said shaft to be turned in one direction b'ut not in the other, and to deliver, to said receptacle, a check inserted between said bar and slide, when said shaft is turned to vend the article for which said check was inserted; a detent latch, pivoted on said casing, nor mally detaining said shaft,4 against axial displacement, with said gear wheel in engagement with said rack and said ratchet wheel in4 engagement with said pawl; but movable to permit axial movement of said shaft; and a removable abutment arranged to detachably engage said casing and hold said locking bar in unlocked position; whereby, when said latch is moved to release said shaft the latter may be manually thrust axially to disengage said ratchet wheel from said pawl without disengaging said gear from said rack, so that the latter may then be moved in either direction by turning mov-ement of said shaft.

2. 1n a check controlled vending machine7 the combination with a casing having a check inlet and a vending outlet; of a receptacle in said casing, adapted to receive checks inserted through said inlet; a holder having a series of compartments for the articles to be vended; means arranged to shift said holder to successively present said compartments in registry with said outlet, including a rack on said holder' having a series of gear teeth and a series of locking notches; said notches respectively corresponding with said compartments; a reciprocatory locking bar arranged to successively engage said notches and thereby prevent movement of said holder; a spring tending to lock said bar; means arranged to disengage said'bar and thus release said holder, including a check slide, a spring tending to operate said slide to close said check inlet, and a lever, connected to said slide and fulcrumed on said casing; whereby said slide may be moved in opposition to its spring, to receive a check between the adjacent ends of said locking bar and slide, so that when said lever is released said slide spring nnlocks said bar, when a check is inserted between said bar and slide; means arranged to raise and lower said holder, by engagement with its gear teeth, including a shaft journaled in said casing and having a handle exterior thereto, a gear wheel on said shaft, adapted to engagesaid gear teeth on said rack, a ratchet wheel on said shaft, a keeper pawl, having a spring tending to engage it with said ratchet wheel, arranged to permit said shaft to be turned in one direction but not in the other, and to deliver', to said receptacle, a check inserted between said bar and slide, when said shaft is turned to vend the article for which said check was inserted; a detent normally detaining said shaft, against axial displacement, with said gear wheel in engagement with said rack and said ratchet wheel in engagement 'with said pawl, but movable to permit axial movement of said shaft; and a removable abutment arranged to detachably engage said casing and hold said lockingbar in unlocked position; whereby, when said detent is moved to release said shaft the latter may be manually thrust axially to disengage said ratchet wheel from said pawl without disengaging said gear from said rack, so that the latter may then be moved in either direction by turning movement of said shaft.

3. ln a check controlled vending machine, the combination with a casing having a check inlet and a vending outlet; of a receptacle in said casing, adapted to receive' checks inserted through said inlet; a holder havingr a series of compartments for the articles to be vended; means arranged to shift said holder to successively present said compartments in registry with said outlet, including a rack on said holder having a series of gear teeth and a series of locking notches; said notches respectively corresponding with said compartments; a reciprocatory locking bar arranged to successively engage said notches and thereby prevent movement of said holder; a spring tending to lock said bar; means arranged to disengage said bar and thus release said holder, including a check slide and a lever; whereby said slide may be moved in opposition to its spring, to receive a check between the adj acent ends of said locking bar and slide, and said lever may be Vmoved to unlock said bar, when a check is inserted between said bar and slide; means arranged to shift saidV holder, by engagement with its gear teeth, including a shaft journaled in said casing and having a handle exterior thereto, a gear whe-el on said shaft, adapted to engage said gear teeth on said rack, a atchct wheel on said shaft, a keeper pawl, having a spring tending to engage it with said ratchet wheel, arranged to permit said shaft to be turned in one direction but not in the other, and to deliver, to said receptacle, a check inserted between said bar and slide, when said shaft is turned to vend the article for which said shaft the latter may be manually thrust axially to disengage said ratchet wheel from said pawl without disengaging said gear from said rack, so that the latter may then be moved in either direction by turning movement of said shaft.

4L. In a check controlled vending machine, the combination with a casing having a check inlet and a vending outlet; of a receptacle in said casing, adapted to receive checks inserted through said inlet; a holder having a V series of compartments for the articles to be vended; means arranged to shift said holder to successively present said compartments in registry with said outlet, including a rack on said holder having a series of gear teeth and a series of locking notches; said notches respectively corresponding with said compartments; a locking element arranged to successively engage said notches and thereby prevent movement of said holder; means arranged to disengage said element and thus release said holder, including a check slide adapted to receive a check between the adjacent ends of said locking element and slide, and then movable to unlock said element; means arranged to shift said holder, including a shaft journaled in said casing and Ahaving a handle exterior thereto, a gear wheel on said shaft, adapted to engage said gear teeth on said rack, a ratchet wheel on said shaft, having a keeper pawl arranged to permit said shaft to be turned in one direction but not in the other; a detent normally detaining said shaft, against axial displacement, with said gear wheel in engagement with said rack and said ratchet wheel in engagement with said pawl, but movable to permit-axial movement of said shaft; and an abutment adjustable to holdv said locking element in unlocked position; whereby, when said detent is moved to release said shaft the latter may be manually thrust axially to disengage said ratchet wheel from said pawl without disengaging said gear from said rack, so that the latter may then be moved in either direction by turning movement of said shaft.

5. ln a check controlled vending machine, the combination with a casing having a check inlet and a vending outlet; of a receptacle in said casing, adapted tol receive checks inserted through said inlet; a holder having a series of compartments for the arti-- cles to be vended; means arrangedV to shift said holder to successively present said com-Y said shaft to be partments in t,registry with said outlet, including a rack on said holder having a series of gear teeth and a series of locking notches; said notches respectively corresponding with Said compartments; a reciprocatory locking bar arranged to successively engage said notches and thereby prevent movement of said holder; a spring tending to lock said bar; means arranged to disengage said bar and thus release said holder, including a check slide having a spring, and a lever, connected to said slide and fulcrumed on said casing; whereby said slide may be moved in opposition to its spring, to receive a check between the adjacent ends of said locking bar and slide, and then movable to unlock said. bar; and means arranged to shift said holder, including a shaft journaled in said casing and having a handle exterior thereto, a gear wheel on said shaft, adapted to engage said gear teeth on said rack, a ratchet wheel on said shaft, a keeper pawl, having a spring'tending to engage it with said ratchet wheel, arranged to permit said shaft to be turned in one direction but not in the other, and to deliver, to said receptacle, a check inserted between said bar and slide, when said shaft is turned to vend the article for which said check was inserted.

6. In a check controlled vending machine, the combination with a casing having a check inlet and a vending outlet; of a receptacle in said casing, adapted to receive checks inserted through said inlet; a holder having a series of compartments for the articles to be vended; means arranged to shift said holder to successively present said compartments in registry with said outlet, including a rack on said holder having a series of gear teeth and a series of locking notches; said notches respectively corresponding with said compartments; a reciprocatory locking bar arranged to successively engage said notches and thereby prevent movement of said holder; a spring tending to lock said bar; means arranged to disengage said bar and thus release said holder, including a check slide adapted to receive a check between the adjacent ends of said locking bar and slide, and then movable to unlock said bar; and means arranged to shift said holder, including a shaft journaled in said casing and having a handle exterior thereto, a gear wheel on said shaft, adapted to engage said gear teeth on said rack, a ratchet wheel on said shaft, a keeper lpawl, having a spring tending to engage it with said ratchet wheel, arranged to permit turned in one direction but not in the other, and to deliver, to said receptacle, a check inserted between said bar and slide, when said shaft is turned to vend the article for which said check was inserted.

7 In a check controlled vending machine, the combination with a casing having a check inlet and a vending outlet; of a receptacle in said casing, adapted to receive checks inserted through said inlet; a holder having a series of compartments for the articles to be vended; means .arranged to shift said holder to successively present said compartments in registry with said outlet, including a rack on said holder having a series of gear teeth and a series of locking notches; said notches respectively corresponding with said compartments; a reciprocatory locking bar arranged to successively engage said notches and thereby prevent movement of said holder; a spring tending to lock said bar; means arranged to disengage said bar and thus release said holder', including a check slide adapted to receive a check between the adjacent ends of' said locking bar and slide, and then movable to unlock said bar; and means arranged to shift said holder, including a shaft jonrnaled in said casing and having a. handle exterior thereto, a gear wheel on said shaft, adapted to engage said gear teeth on said rack, a ratchetwheel on said shaft, a keeper pawl, having a spring tending to engage it with said ratchet wheel, arranged to permit said shaft to be turned in one direction but not in the other.

8. ln a check controlled vending machine, the combination with a casing having a check inlet and a vending outlet; of a check receptacle in said casing; a holder having a series of compartments for the articles to be vended; means arranged to shift said holder to successively present said compartments in registry with said outlet, including a gear rack on said holder, a shaft journale'd in said casing and having a handle exterior thereto, and a gear wheel on said shaft, adapted to engage said rack; a ratchet wheel on said shaft, a keeper pawl, mounted to reciprocate in said casing, having a spring tending to engage it with said ratchet wheel, arranged to permit said shaft to be turned in one direction but not in the other, and to deliver, to said receptacle, a check inserted between said bar and slide, when said shaft is turned to vend the article for which said check was inserted; and a detent normally detaining said shaft, against axial displacement, with sai gear wheel in engagement with said rack and said ratchet wheel in engagement with said pawl, but movable to permit axial movement of said shaft.

9. ln a check controlled vending machine,

the combination with a casing having a check inlet and a vending outlet; of a check receptacle in said casing; a holder having a series of compartments for the articles to be vended; means arranged to shift said holder to successively present said compartments in registry with said outlet, including a gear rack on said holder, a. shaft journaled in said casing and having a handle exterior thereto, and a gear wheel on said shaft,

adapted to engage said rack; a ratchet wheel on said shaft, a keeper pawl, having a spring tending to engage it with said ratchet wheel, arranged to permit said shaft to be turned in one direction but not in the other, and to deliver', to said receptacle, a check inserted between said bar and slide, when said shaft is turned to vend the article for which said check was inserted; and a detent normally detaining said shaft, against axial displacement, with said gear wheel in engagement with said rack and said ratchet wheel in engagement with said pawl, but movable to permit axial movement of said shaft.

lO. In a check controlled vending machine, the combination with a casing having a check inlet vand a vending outlet; of a holder having a series of compartments for the articles to be vended; means arranged to shift said holder to successively present said compartment in registry with said outlet, including a gear rack on said holder, a shaft journaled in said casing and having a handle exterior thereto, a gear wheel on said shaft, adapted to engage said gear teeth on said rack, a ratchet wheel on said shaft, a keeper pawl for said ratchet wheel, arranged to permit said shaft to be turned in one direction but not in the other; a detent, normally detaining said shaft, against axial displacement, with said gear wheel in engagement with said rack and said ratchet wheel in engagement with said pawl, but movable to permit axial movement of said shaft; whereby, when said detent is moved to release said shaft the latter may be thrust axially to disengage said ratchet wheel from said pawl without disengaging said gear from said rack, so that the latter maythen be moved in either direction by turning movement of said shaft; a projection on said locking bar; and a'removable abutment arranged to deV` taehably engage said casing and hold said locking bar in unlocked position.

ll. In a check controlled vending machine, the combination with a casing having a check inlet and a vending outlet; of a holder having a series of compartments for the articles to be vended; means arranged to shift said holder to successively present said compartments in registry with said outlet, including a gear rack on said holder, a shaft journaled in said casing and having a handle exterior thereto, a gear Wheel on said shaft, adapted to engage said gear teeth on said rack, a ratchet wheel on lopes of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,l

said shaft, a keeper pawl for said ratchet wheel arranged to permit said sli/aft to be turned in one direction but not in the other; and a detent, normally detaining said shaft, against axial displacement, with said gear wheel in engagement with said rack and said ratchet wheel in engagement with said pawl, but movable to permit axial movement of said'shaft; whereby, vhen said detent is moved to release said shaft the latter may be thrust axially to disengage said ratchet wheel from said pawl without disengaging said gear from said rack, so that the latter may then be moved in either direction by turning movement of said shaft.

l2. In a check vcontrolled vending inachine, the combination with casing having a check inlet and a vending outlet; of a rack arranged to shift the articles to be vended, to present them at said outlet; a locking element arranged to engage said rack in position to present one of'said articles at said outlet; means whereby said locking element may be unlocked from said rack, including a slide adapted to receive a check inserted at said terior to said casing, whereby such unlocking movement of said slide may be effected when a check is inserted; means whereby said rack may be shifted, including a shaft having a gear wheel engaginoV said rack; and means operatively connected with said shaft, whereby an inserted check is delivered from cooperative relation with said slide, when said rack is moved to vend the article for which said check was inserted. Y

13. In a check controlled vending machine, the combination with a. casing having a check inlet and a vending outlet; of a holder for a series of articles to be vended; means arranged to shift said holder to successively present said articles in registry with said outlet, including a rack having a series of notches; said rack being arranged to project through said casing, and Vdisplay its notches exterior thereto, whereby the number of articles vended is indicated by the projection of said racl In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this twentieth day of April, 1916.

DANIEL E. VIOKS.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR E. PAIGE, ANNA IsRAELvrrZ.

Washington, D. C.

inlet, and means ex- 

